Divers find explosive device on diving attraction
A potentially deadly explosive device used by fishermen has been removed from the wreck of the Um El Faroud off the coast of Wied iż-Żurrieq after it was discovered by divers on Sunday.
Ian Barbara, chairman of Calypso Subaqua Club, who was diving at the wreck - a diving attraction - said that 10 divers, including a few first-time divers, were exploring the former Libyan tanker when they saw the device.
"We kept away from it and returned to the surface shortly after," he said, adding that the AFM Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit was then alerted.
Such devices are intended to go off underwater to kill as many fish as possible, making it easier for fishermen to pick them up from the surface.
Sources close to the Armed Forces of Malta said that the effects of detonation would be far larger underwater. Had the bomb gone off and a diver was in the area, it would have killed him, he explained.
AFM divers were called and the device was rendered safe a short time after. The evidence was handed to Żurrieq district police for further investigations.
Members of the diving community urged fishermen not to engage in such practices and highlighted the threat such home-made bombs could have on divers.
When asked about the consequences an explosion would have had on the diving industry, Paul Sciberras, of DiveSystems, said: "Diving bases itself on safety and security and it would have been a disaster had the bomb had gone off, impacting heavily on the industry."
He noted that it was illegal to kill fish with any means in a protected area such as the Um El Faroud site, let alone with an explosive device such as the one found, which was illegal in itself.
The Um El Faroud blew up as a result of an accumulation of gases while it was at Malta Drydocks on February 3, 1995. Nine dockyard workers died. The ship was scuttled in 30 metres of water off Zurrieq in 1998 and later broke in two.
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R Gatt
Dec 23rd 2009, 11:52
@ Chris A Park - Malta has been asking Britain to clean the mess they left of Filfla from using it as target practice for ages now, but always got a negative answer. Maybe you could put in a good word for us. They made the mess and they should clear it up. Her majesty's services are more equipped and experienced in such cases.
M.Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2009, 22:10
@Mark Mifsud Bonnici, jekk il-kacca hija an non existant problem, naħseb li s-sinjur jew jghix kontinwament f'pajjiz iehor jew inkella meta ikun ghaddej fil-kampanja jaghmel bhal certi speċi ta' ghasafar jozz rasu fir-ramel u ma jara xejn. Jista ikun ukoll li jaqbel ma tnejn min dawk it-tlett xadini li ta spiss naraw fl-istampi. B'ghajnejnhom moghtija, widnejhom moghtija imma gġal kuntrarju b'halqu miftuh biex jikkumenta fil-vojt.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Dec 22nd 2009, 20:04
Illegal nets and the use of explosives for capturing fish is common place, yet we never hear of any NGO protesting or any foreign "fish watchers" coming over to vilify Malta in the same way they do where hunting is concerned. Neither do we, were fishing is concerned, witness countless ALE patrols combing the countryside harassing every hunter they see.
Yet unlike the few birds trapped or shot. rampant illegal fishing truly harms Malta's biodiversity and no one seems to care. Maybe some NGO might take on the opportunity and benefit from EU funds. Birdlfie managed to secure 175,000 euro for a non existant problem, maybe finally EU funds may be put to good use.
Charles Sammut
Dec 22nd 2009, 17:03
Let's assume that the explosive device had gone off. Sure the damage would have been deplorable but time would heal that wound. But when MEPA approves the construction of the huge project at Belvedere at Qala Gozo the damage done to the environment will be forever. Where is the Public outrage? Why is the Minister for Gozo who prides herself with the slogan Eco-Gozo so silent on this issue? Yes indeed why?
GEORGE CACHIA
Dec 22nd 2009, 16:34
Adding to this article the news of the parcel bomb in St Edward Street Qormi of a few hours ago, one cannot but wonder to what extent the authorities care about the apparently free availability of explosive material. The equation is simple, on the supply side we have an ever dwindling availability of WWII ordinance, and legal explosives used for quarrying, together with the raw materials for the manufacture of less potent explosive units. On the demand side we have village festas (legal & not - Naxxar last year), illegal fishing, and the more sinister occasional parcel bomb or similar explosion under cars and behind one's front door etc. Our authorities must adopt a zero tolerance policy to bombing of all kinds. As rightly mentioned in your article there are areas around our coasts where "fishing" with bombs is a common occurrence. It just does not happen silently without anyone noticing what's going on. The areas are known and the people are known. The authorities must act. This latter incident on a wreck frequently visited by divers is a relatively singular incident, But if repeated could have fatal consequences if divers are on the wreck. let's not risk it!
M.Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2009, 13:34
Li kieku din il-bomba ħadet, il-hsara kbira li kienet issir lil indusrija tat-turizmu f'dan il-qaam kienet tkun irriparabbli. Hemm bzonn li dawn il-kriminali wieħed jiehu hsiebhom, kemm jekk huwa sajjied kif ukoll jekk mhux.
Matthew Calamatta
Dec 22nd 2009, 13:06
This is a disaster for diving.
The Faroud is one of Malta's best dive spots. It features in UK magazine articles and is discussed at length in internet forums read by thousands. What now, when we know there is no surveillance of dive sites, and no enforcement of laws?
Only economic pressure will force the Malta government to create a dedicated coast guard that ensures the protection of our natural heritage. We need a couple of boats, a few security cameras, and a guaranteed anonymous tip-line so that any transgressions can be reported. I'm not holding my breath, of course...
@P. Abela, the problem is not in the reporting of the event, but in the selfish, pig-ignorant act of whoever dropped the charge overboard, and in the awful lack of law enforcement this reveals. Malta needs to shed this unhelpful attitude of sweeping problems under the carpet or simply not talking about heinous acts because they may give the wrong impression. If the truth hurts, the solution is not to lie but to fix what's wrong.
Mario Tabone
Dec 22nd 2009, 12:29
The only solution to this sort of abuse is to have off shore patrols that check and search any craft they come across. This is how its done in places like Australia where officers in fast craft will approach and check pleasure boats and fishing boats alike.
This will cut down on smuggling, drug running and illegal fishing as well as other offences like being in charge of a speedboat while intoxicated.
It is useless blaming the government like we Maltese have a tendency to do. We have to be ready to pay proper licences for using boats as well as for fishing and other activities including diving. The revenue from this would fund more patrols.
We just cannot conti nue to expect everything for free.
Paul Smith
Dec 22nd 2009, 11:52
Some Maltese are hell bent on destroying the enviroment Over developing, using more water than you have, concreting over everything, developing what little green belt you have, killing anything that flies through the air over fishing, bombing fish and the people in charge just look on and do nothing.
Will Malta be the next easter Island where complex civilization collapses due to enviromental destruction?
C.Cilia
Dec 22nd 2009, 10:49
As a fisherman by hobby myself, I can say that such actions do extensive harm not only to the tourism industry but also to our sea creatures. I remember last summer when I was on a boat trip with friends when the cove we were swimming in filled up with small fish floating in the surface....obviously all dead. It was clear this was a result of an underwater explosion placed by some irresonsible individual which I would not call fisherman as this act is not fishinig but killing! When fish is killed this way, most of the fish killed will be blown into pieces which make it useless for the market and some will sink to the bottom making them unreachable while some will turn to the surface. This is a crazy thing to do as for a few fish, this type of killer is risking much of the fish existence in our sea which as everyone knows is very poor and also the life of other sea lovers.
Shame on you and hope this guy is punished harshly and used as an example to other crazy irresponsible guys out there!
EDWIN DE MARCO
Dec 22nd 2009, 10:41
It is very difficult to trace the culprit/s who placed this bomb. As for breaking the news, I wholly agree, as some unexperienced diver might have got killed. Now they know about it. No need to say, if the culprit/s are ever brought to "justice", the new law which will come into effect next year will surely be a great deterrent & and the episode will not repeat itself. The punishment intended in such a case, according to this same new law, is not about suspended sentences or some other parody. The offender/s will be "suspended" under water for 24 hours without food & DRINK! (no pun intended)
T Mifsud
Dec 22nd 2009, 10:35
This is attempted manslaughter as the device was placed on a prime diving site. This, potentially, has also repercussions on diving tourism and therefore the culprit must be caught asap.
Come on we live in Malta, everybody knows everybody. Even more fishermen know fishermen. The police have a job to track down this criminal asap.
Joseph Sant
Dec 22nd 2009, 09:51
@P. Abela:
I think you are wrong.
The fact that it was reported makes the act public and alerts divers to such potential hazards. It would have been far worse if it did not get reported and someone had to die as a consequence - even for the industry itself.
Besides, as a matter of journalism, why should the general public not know about these things?
Vince DeBono
Dec 22nd 2009, 09:43
Mmmmm, no wonder little boats can catch very dangerous very big fish. I was always mystified until now.
This is either a first attempt which did not work, or someone must have heard/seen something before. Imagine a group of six divers or a boat with 8 tourists and Maltese boatman getting killed in one blast. Hope the police view this as VERY serious attempted manslaughter and proceed accordingly.
I doubt if there are any explosives on Filfla any longer. Bombs which have been there long enough underwater might still contain explosives but this is likely to be so unstable that it would kill the one trying to recover it.
What if CCTV were to be installed on a spot overlooking the area? Guards against such events, regulates boat / swimmer-diver traffic, immigrants' arrivals etc. Connected to the Zurrieq or Qrendi Police Station. MEPA or the Enviroment Dept. could also put remote sensing CCTV on Filfla.
A few steep fines would pay for the outlay ! Then we would have the bonus of enhanced safety.
@P abela. Better to make everybody aware of what there is and what they might find so as not to have some innocent person(s) get hurt.
N. Keepers
Dec 22nd 2009, 09:42
@ P. Abela, I think these incidents should always be reported, to show how people can behave: not warning authorities when they know that an explosive device hasn't detonated. For me me this is attempted murder! Scandalous!
Chris A. Park
Dec 22nd 2009, 09:18
I recall from my Service days with HM Forces on the Island, having once stopped very early one morning a group of stocky lads from Zurrieq with a loaded torpedo in the back of their van they'd had just fished off the isle of Filfla. They planned to extract the TNT from it for the vilage festa that season.
With my wife's relatives still on the Island and in the same parish, this practice is not rare or uncommon, as the jungle bush-wire drum strums....and it's carried on till this day. Unchecked and uncontrolled by local law-enforcement and military authorities, as if condoned by some passive or tacit non-action, makes the nation look no better than the Sicilian neighbours up north, of the criminal 'omerta`' kind.
The right for information, and in the interests of public safety shouldn't be sacrificed for sake of risking tainting Malta's diving tourism industry. The exposure and convinction of such bone-heads who use TNT to blow fish to the water's surface should serve as a deterrent, as much as Maltese society has come round to despise hunting or hunters.
Explosives' clearance of Filfla is also greatly overdue, nature reserve or not!
Etienne Grech
Dec 22nd 2009, 09:11
It's seems some fisherman find it hard to abide to certain rules. If one would pay a visit to Dwejra one would witness illegal fishing on a daily basis....and no does anything about it!
Joe Sammut (Ta' Harrbat)
Dec 22nd 2009, 08:37
It's amazing still in this day and age in Malta, as to how such brazen criminals can still manage to get themselves a quantity of explosives to use on their 'fishing excursions'.
Maltese society is small, the pyrotechnic community even smaller, and the usual rogue odd pennies should stand out like a sore thumb in the public.
On the other hand, with nearby Filfa open for all (despite being out of bounds), for unexploded British ordnance and explosives to be picked from, there isn't much deterrent to prevent handling of such dangerous explosive devices.
Government should embark on a 'demining'/ explosives clearance operation on Filfla, to render it safe and to prevent criminals from utilising weapons' grade explosives for illicit activities.
The AFM have qualified combat engineers who have even been on UN missions to Ethiopia for this, high time they are put to good use alongside their EOD professionals!
P. Abela
Dec 22nd 2009, 08:25
In my opinion, and I stand to be corrected, such an irresponsible act should have never been reported in the press. I feel that besides jeopardising police investigations, such reporting has already done irreparable harm to the specific segment of our tourism industry. Please correct me if I am wrong.
joseph scerri
Dec 22nd 2009, 08:21
No pity what so ever for this irresponsible act. This is a crime and I hope that who made this act, he will get what he deserve. Hope not a suspended sentence
J Azzopardi
Dec 22nd 2009, 08:18
What a shameful way to act. Man can be such an irresponsible creature. No wonder our planet is in the state it is. I agree the law should hit hard on the culprits though I doubt they will ever be uprehanded.
J Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2009, 07:26
Irresponsible fishermen. The law should come down hard on such things.